Today was one of those days where I just wanna take hold of Kolkata and scream at her. This is a very rough city and it gets to you after awhile, especially when it gets hot. Being that today was Saturday I really just wanted to chill out and have a nice relaxing day. Of course thats almost an impossible task to accomplish in this city. 

 In a few days I'm headed back to India and I find myself bursting at the seams with that anxious anticipation that always precedes something exciting and challenging. Getting there and getting re acclimated to the rhythm of Kolkata is going to be tough but I'm ready for it. I'll probably be eating those words in the near future when the city inevitably starts to wear me down but for now I'm psyched, re energized and ready to take the city on. 
 

The beginning of the year is always an exciting time full of fresh starts and renewed energy, but here at TEN it takes on an extra special meaning. This is the time of the year when we take a group of volunteers over to India to visit some of our projects and partners working to support survivors of trafficking; and if your lucky to be one of those volunteers you'll never be the same again.

Recently the survivors at our Destiny Center began branching out from just stitching and sewing to also designing - coming up with ideas for bags, wallets, key chains, and various other items. It's the next logical step in their evolution of gaining independence and it highlights how talented these girls are and how bright their futures are with the right support.

Yesterday I visited a child care home that is operated by Women's Interlink Foundation (WIF) and it was a very inspiring experience. WIF is an organization that T.E.N has supported throughout the years and it has many successes to speak of. It was started by a wonderful women named Alooka that has been fighting the good fight for over four decades. In this time they have managed to set up shelter homes all around Kolkata that house and take care of literally hundreds of girls (and some boys) of all ages. They take care of all the needs of these girls from shelter, food and health to education and job training. It was a beautilful and energizing sight to behold.

Kolkata has taken on a very different feel over the last few weeks with the onset of the monsoons. The air is cooler thanks to the daily downpours and they are a welcomed relief beyond anything I can put into words. Everyday it rains for either part of the day or for the entire day and this brings a renewal of the spirit that his hard to describe. You see the heat of Kolkata, during the summer, is extremely oppressive. It makes you so lazy, cranky, and tired that the thought of even walking to the corner store becomes a chore you have to think twice about.

Recently Destiny reached the one year mark and another volunteer sat down with the girls and had them talk about how that time here has affected them. It was good to hear about how they feel they've changed or grown, but it was also sad to hear about the situations that led them here in the first place. One of the girls told her story and I shall recount it here for you so you can hear for yourself how things have changed for some of them.

Trafficking has become such a sophisticated and manipulative force that it's very hard for women and girls to even know they are in danger. By the time they do, it's almost always too late. They're in and trapped with little hope of getting out. The thing that scares me is the fact that the people at the top of these organizations are everyday people like you and me. They are businessmen that are very wealthy and have a good standing in the public. Very few people know their real side or agenda and in fact when you go out to eat, for instance, you could be having dinner with or near any one of them without even knowing. That's how widespread and deep this issue goes. That's why this issue has become such a hard one to put an end to. Listen to these examples and see what I mean.

Yesterday I met with an extremely elegant, gracious and passionate woman named Alooka. She is the founder and director of the Womens Interlink Foundation. Alooka has been tirelessly advocating for and helping trafficking victims for over 40 years! She is a major force to be reckoned with and one I'm glad we have as an ally.

This is a true story....

On my way back from some time well spent at Sarah and John's in Cape Cod, I had what one would call a potential disaster that thankfully didn't realize it's full potential.  As I arrived at the airport I began to prepare for the security line. I took my shoes off, took the change out of my pocket, puled my belt out of it's loops and took my laptop out of my back pack. I mention my backpack last as that is where my troubles began.